"250,000 New Yorkers suffer from Alzheimer's disease or
other dementias. People with dementia often do not have the ability to make
sound decisions, are not always aware of where they are, and sometimes cannot
speak coherently or understand what is being said. If these already
vulnerable seniors become lost or wander away from their homes, they are
particularly at risk of either never being found or found seriously injured or
deceased.

"With the enactment of Introductory Number 270-A, the
Police Department will develop and implement a protocol for sharing information
about vulnerable seniors who have been reported missing and who may be in
imminent danger in order to aid in their return. The information that will
be sent will include a person's name, age, brief description, and the area where
they were last seen or the description of the car they may have been
driving. Public notifications will be sent through various media and
notification outlets - including television, radio, and NotifyNYC - as well as
to hospitals, senior centers, and other residential institutions as often as
needed, in the hopes that they will assist in the recovery of the missing
person.

"This Silver Alert system is a step towards helping
older New Yorkers remain safe as they age. Even with the best care,
wandering remains a serious risk for those suffering from dementia. The
Silver Alert system provides caregivers with a quick response by the community
and law enforcement personnel to help identify, locate, and safely return
someone who has wandered away from their home.

"I would like to thank Department for the Aging
Commissioner Lilliam Barrios-Paoli, Police Commissioner Ray Kelly, and Emergency
Management Commissioner Joseph Bruno and their staff along with my Office of
City Legislative Affairs for their work with the City Council on this
bill. I would also like to thank the Council for approving this
legislation."